Conductor support



June 24, 1930. L. w. BIRCH 1,766,873

CONDUCTOR SUPPORT Filed July 25, 1929 lnve ntor LELAND 14/. 3112c];

yd/W By p Amy Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LELANDW. BIRCH, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO THE OHIO BRASS COMPANY, -01MANSFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY oonnuoron surronrApplication filed July 25,

My invention relates to overhead systems for supporting a contact wireused in connection with the electric traction lines and has particularreference to such construction at curves.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple arrangement ofelements for maintaining the contact w11'e in a fixed position withrespect to the track and at the same time permit flexibility in thecontact wire due to the upper pressure of the current collector as itpasses along the contact wire.

My invention resides in the new and novel arrangement and combination ofthe various elements herein described and shown in the attached drawing.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a construction which may be used on a curvewhere the contact wire is convex with respect to the pole.

Fig. 2 is a construction which may be used where the contact wires areeither convex or concave with respect to the pole.

Inthe two arrangements there is shown an upright pole member 1projecting from the ground with horizontal arm 2 projecting from thepole and secured thereto by means of the bracket 3 and the support rod4. Mounted upon the arm 2 is a pin 5 and an insulator 6 provided with atop groove 7 to receive the messenger cable 8.

At the points 9 are shown clamps which grip not only the messenger cablebut an auxiliary cable 10. Below the above parts is positioned thecontact wire 11, shown in Fig. 1 as curved in a plane parallel to thetrack and also in Fig. 2 shown as curved in a plane parallel to thetrack. This plane may be horizontal or not depending on the lay of thetrack.

In Fig. 1 is shown a pull-off wire 12 secured to the auxiliary cable 10by means of the clamp 13 and having an interposed insulator 14 andsecured to the pole 1 by means of the eye-bolt 15. This pull-off devicedraws the auxiliary cable 10 out of alinement and approximates thecurvature of the contact wire 11. On both sides of the clamp 13 areshown obliquely disposed hangers 16 for suspending the wire 11 from theauxiliary cable and for producing and maintaining the desired curvatureof 1929. Serial No. 380,862

the wire 11.- Beyond the limits of the auxiliary cable 10 the contactwire is supported from the messenger cable 8 by means of the hangers 17,which are usuallyvertically dis- ;posed although those hangers adjacentthe clamps 9 may be somewhat obliquely disposed.

It would be seen that the contact wire 11 is given a curvature which ismaintained and at the same time is free to rise and fall .as the currentcollector passes, and without the effect .ofso-callcd hard spots at thehangers 16 as is the case where the contact wire is pulled andmaintained in a curved condition by a pull-ofii device secured directlyto the contact wire.

In Fig. 2' the arrangement is very similar to that in Fig. 1 exceptingthe contact wire is curved in the opposite direction andtherefore it isnecessary to use a rigid form of device for producing and maintainingthe curvature of :the contact wire. This device is shown ascompr-ising arod 18 secured to the a-umliary cable 10 by meansxof the clamp 19 and toan adjustablea-rm 20 and having an interposed insulating element 21. Inthis lcase-the auxiliary cable 10 ispushed into position and maintainedthrough compression upon the rod 18, while in Fig; 1 thecable 12 isunder tension.

The contactwire 11 is'suspended fromthe auxiliary cable 10 by means ofthe obliquely disposed hangers16; which are positioned on oppositesidesof the clamp 19. Contaet'wires are also suspended .onthe tangentfrom the messenger cable '8 by means oft-he hangers 17, which, as in thecase of Fig. 1, may be slightly obliquely disposed adjacent the ends ofthe auxiliary cable 10.

It is quite evident that the rod construction 18 shown in Fig. 2 maybesubstituted for the cable construction 12 shown in Fig. 1. In otherwords, the-rod 18 shown in Fig. 2 can be used either under tension orcompression. The end of the 'rod 18, where secured to the'arm-20,is madeadjustable by means of threads andnuts as shown, therebypermitt'ing-a'd'isplacement of the auxiliary cable 10 other than thatwhich may be produced by an adjustment ofthe arm 20 upon the bracket 2.

All;

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 it will be noted that the contactwire is free to rise and fall with the passing of the current collectorand without shock at the hangers 16, which would not be the case if therod 18 was attached directly to the contact wire 11.

Modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art afterreading this specification, but I wish to be limited only by my claims.

I claim 1. An overhead system comprising an upstanding support and asubstantially horizontal arm support projecting therefrom, a curvedcontact wire positioned below the arm in a plane substantiallyhorizontal to the track, an insulator on said arm, messenger cablemounted on the insulator, an auxiliary cable positioned. below the armand above the contact wire and having its ends secured to spaced pointson the messenger cable on opposite sides of the arm, an insulated devicesecured to the auxiliary cable and to the support and forcing theauxiliary cable out of alinement with the messenger cable and contactwire, hangers connecting the contact wire to the messenger cable andobliquely disposed hangers between the auxiliary cable and contact wireand holding the contact wire to proper curvature.

2. An overhead system comprising a support, an insulator mounted on thesupport, contact wire positioned in aplane below the insulator andcurved out of alinement, a messenger cable supported by the insulator,an auxiliary cable connecting spaced points on the messenger cable,hangers connecting the contact wire and the messenger cable, meanssecured to the support and to the auxiliary cable and holding theauxiliary cable out of alinement with the messenger cable and hangersbetween the auxiliary cables and the contact wire to hold the contactwire to proper curvature.

3. An overhead system comprising a support, an insulator mounted on thesupport, a contact wire positioned in a plane below the insulator andcurved out of alinement, a messenger cable supported by the insulator,an auxiliary cable connecting spaced points on the messenger cable,hangers connecting the contact wire and the messenger cable, meanssecured to the support and holding the auxiliary cable out of alinementwith the messenger cable and hangers between the auxiliary cable and thecontact wire on opposite sides of the point for attachment of the saidmeans to the auxiliary cable to hold the contact wire to propercurvature.

4. An overhead system comprising a support, an insulator mounted on thesupport, a contact wire positioned in a plane su stantially parallel tothe track and carved out of alinement, a messenger cablesupported by theinsulator, an auxiliary cable connected to the messenger cable at spacedpoints on 01)- posite sides of the support, means secured to theauxiliary cable and to means adjustably secured to the support to holdthe auxiliary cable out of alinement either towards or away from thesupport, hangers connecting the contact wire to the messenger and otherhangers connecting the contact to the auxiliary cable and holding thecontact wire to a curved position.

5. An overhead system comprising a support, a contact wire curved out ofalinement, an insulator mounted on the support, a messenger cablemounted on the insulator, an auxiliary cable having its ends secured tothe messenger cable at spaced points, a' device secured to the auxiliarycable and to the support to hold the auxiliary. cable out of alinement,means to adjust the amount the auxiliary cable deviates from alinementand a plurality of means to suspend the contact wire from the messengerand the auxiliary cables.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

LELAND lV. BIRCH.

